Skanska has signed a contract with Amtrak to rehabilitate
and restore maintenance facilities for the Next Generation Acela 21 high-speed
rail service in Washington, D.C., Boston, and New York, USA.
The contract is worth about $40 million, and the work is scheduled
for completion in the first quarter of 2021 when Amtrak plans to introduce its next
generation fleet.
The three maintenance facilities were initially built by Skanska 20 years ago. The rehabilitation will include structural modifications and industrial equipment upgrades to accommodate the new trains .
Amtrak is contracting with Alstom to produce 28
next-generation high-speed trains that will replace the equipment used to
provide Amtrak’s Acela Express service. The contract is part of $2.45 billion
that will be invested on the heavily traveled Northeast Corridor (NEC) as part
of a multifaceted modernization program to renew and expand the Acela Express
service.
“Amtrak is taking the necessary actions to keep our
customers, the Northeast region and the American economy moving forward,” said Amtrak
President & CEO Joe Boardman. “These trainsets and the modernization and
improvement of infrastructure will provide our customers with the mobility and
experience of the future.”
The new trains will have one-third more passenger seats, modern
amenities such as improved Wi-Fi access, personal outlets, USB ports and
adjustable reading lights at every seat, enhanced food service and a smoother,
more reliable ride.
The new trains will allow for increased service including
half-hourly Acela Express service between Washington D.C. and New York City
during peak hours, and hourly service between New York City and Boston.
“The Northeast Corridor is a national economic engine that
carries a workforce contributing $50 billion annually to the national GDP,”
said U.S. Senator Cory Booker. “Amtrak’s continued investment in modernizing
its fleet will only serve to enhance this vital rail link between Boston and
Washington D.C. while allowing for safer and faster travel at a time when
passenger demand is expected to rise. Strengthening our nation’s infrastructure
is essential to the economic growth of our region and the nation and this
investment by Amtrak will help ensure the reliable service travelers expect.”
Amtrak is funding the trainsets and infrastructure
improvements through the FRA’s Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement
Financing program that will be repaid through growth in NEC revenues.
In addition to the trains, Amtrak is also investing in
infrastructure needed to improve the on-board and station customer experience
that will accommodate the increased high-speed rail service levels.
Amtrak will invest in significant station improvements at
Washington Union Station, Moynihan Station New York, as well as track capacity
and ride quality improvements to the NEC that will benefit both Acela Express
riders and other Amtrak and commuter passengers. Amtrak will also modify fleet maintenance
facilities to accommodate the new trains.
The trains will be manufactured at Alstom’s Hornell and
Rochester, N.Y., facilities, creating 400 local jobs. Additionally, parts for the new trains will
come from more than 350 suppliers in more than 30 states, generating an
additional 1,000 jobs across the country.
All of the new trains are expected to be in service, and the
current fleet retired, by the end of 2022.
